Ice tray



p 1932. J. J. MITCHELL 1,879,400

ICE TRAY Filed Aug. 20, 1950 Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JACK J. MITCIIELL, 01: ST. IPE'LERSBU'BG, FLORIDA rom meir Application ma August 20, 19.30. Serial No. 476,671.

This invention relates to trays of the character used in artificial household refrigeration for the purpose of frezing water and other liquids, an object being to provide a tray with means for loosening the ice blocks without raising the temperature of the tray by placing the same under running water, so that subsequent freezing may occur in a relatively short time, and liquids may be frozen in a much shorter period than with the use of the ordinary tray.

Another object of the inventiori is the provision of means for quickly and easily loosening the ice blocks end partly projecting them above the tray where they may be gr1pped With a pair of tongs, the said loosenmg end projecting being accomplished without break iiig the blocks and without contact with the iE the same.

Figure 3 is a transverse section.

Figure 4 is a similar view illustrating the menner of removing the ice blocks.

Referring to the drawing in detail wherein iike characters of reference .denote corresponding parts, the reference character indicates a tray which may be made of any suitable size and material. The tray is pro- Vided with synclined side walls 10. This tray is provided adjacent each end with a partition 11 and the space between these partitions and the adjacent end walls of the tra.y

provide compartments 12.

The tray is further provided With transversely disposed partitions 13 arranged in pairs and the partitions of each pair have bheir"adjaqent ends slightly spaced apart to receive a movable partition 14.

The partitions 11 and 13 are forn'1ecl integral with the walls of the tray, while the partition 14 is separately formed. This partition 14 is positioned between the adjacent ends of the aligned partitions 13 and pro- 65 vides one wall oreach of a number of compartments 15 formed by the partitions and walls of the tray. These compartments are for the purpose of receiving waiter or other liquid to be frozen so that the tray may be so used to form ice blocks 16.

Extending laterally from the lower edge of -the partition 14 into ech of the compartments 15 are inclined ribs 17, grooves 18 bev tweexi these ribs acting to receive the inner edges of the partitions 13.

The partition 14 is movable vertically, and when this partition is moved upward, in a.

manner to be later described, it will break the blocks 16 loose from the walls of the compartment and will lift the blocks a suflicient distance to permit of their ready removal with a pair of tongs, or with the fingers if' desire'd. Tu facilitate the removal ef the blocks, the side Walls of the tray are outwardly and upwardly inclined as shown.

The top of the partition 14 is provided with a longitudinal bere 19 for the reception of a. rod 20 and this rod has its opposite ends oppositely threaded as shown at 21 for threaded engagem xt in opei1ings provided in lifting blocks 22. The lower ends of these blocks are inclined as showri-at 23 for engagement with the upper inclined surface of spports 24. Thse blocks 23 and sppprts 24 are positioned within the endco'mpartments 12 and these compartments are separated from the compartments 15 by the partitions 11, so that no water can flow into the compartments 12,

anc1 freezing of the movable elements in these 0 compartments will be prevented.

The rod 20 is provided with an operating handle 25.

It will be apparent from the foieg0ing description and accompanying drawing thai; by

rotating the rod 20 in one direction, the blocks 22 may be moved relatively inward So that the partition 14 will be raised vertically. This action will break the blocks 16 loose' v from the walls of the compartments 15 so that the said blocks may be readily remov ,ed without the necessity of subjecting them{to the action of running water with a constant raisng of the temperature of the tray. When the blocks are removd in this manner, the trays 15 may be refilled and their contents frozen in a much shorter space of time due to the fact that the temperature of the tray has not been greatly raised.

In addition, the ice blocks 16 may be much more easily removed and may be handled in a sanitary manner.

The upper surfaces of the rib 17 at the lower edge of the partitio'n 14 are anti-clined and the said anti-clined surfaces are located opposite the synclined side walls 10 of the tray. Therefore when the partition is moved in un upward direction the anti-clined surfaces ofthe rib 17 will force the blocks of ice to canted positions in the compartments so tha.t they may be residily removed therefrom.

The invention is susceptible of various changes in its form, proportions and minor details of construction and the right is herein reserved to make such changes as properly full within the scope of the appended clains.

Having described the invention wht is claimed is 1. In a reezng tray, a filurality of separate compartments adapt ed to contain liqud to be frozen into separate blocks, a vertically movable member extending into said compartments to lift the frozen blocks, a threaded shaft rotatable in said member, and means threadedly engaged with the shaft and operable when the latter is rotated to move said member vertically.

2. In a freezing tray, a, plurality of separate compartments adapted to contain liquid to be frozen into separate blocks', a. vertically movable member extendng into said compartments to lift the frozen blocks, a threaded shaft rotatable in sad member, inclined supports carried by the tray, andblocks threadedly engaged with the shaft for sliding engagement with the inclined supports to,move said member vertically when the rotated.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

JACK J. MITCHELL.

shaft is 

